They estimated the state would end the year with a $266 million deficit this year and a $339.4 million deficit next fiscal year that’s as long as lawmakers cut the $570 million in spending Gov. Dannel P. Malloy asked them to cut on Feb. 3. If they don’t the gap would be closer to $900 million.

OFA’s numbers are much larger than numbers reported less than a week ago by Malloy’s budget office, which estimated the state budget was on track to end this fiscal year with a $19.9 million deficit. Last month, OFA estimated the state would end the year with a $72.2 million budget deficit, but the state’s fiscal picture has changed significantly since that time.

The governor’s budget office took the new downward projections in stride and Democratic legislative leaders were slow to respond.